ABSTRACT

ThepublicationofthisfirstissueofCriticalCriminologymarksanimportant milestoneforallcriminologistsconcernedwiththepolitical,economic,and culturalforcesthatshapethedefinitionandcharacterofcrime,andthatframe thepublicandacademicdiscourseabouthowwemightachievejustice. CriticalCriminologyisnotanentirelynewjoumal-ratheritemergesfromthe chrysalisoftheformerJournalof/IumanJusticethankstotheeffortsofBrian MacLeanandtheeditorialcollectiveofthatjournal.Initsnewconfiguration, however,CriticalCriminologywillprovideanevenmorereadilyidentifiable, high-qualityvehicleforthedisseminationofknowledgealongthemanyand diversetheoreticalchannelsencompassedbytheterm'criticalcriminology.' FrommyperspectiveasChairoftheDivisionofCriticalCriminology,the publicationofthisjournalisanimportantcontributiontothemaintenanceof avibrantintellectualcommunityamongthemembersoftheDivision.Ilook forwardtoyearsofreadingqualityscholarship,trenchantintellectualdebate, andcompellingpublicpolicydiscussionsinCriticalCriminology.